Obstruction

A term that is used to refer to touching the ball with any part of the body or clothing while it is above or travelling towards the playing surface, before it has bounced in the proper court. The player who commits this offence loses the point.

The rule is usually only brought into play if the player intercepts the ball in a way that is likely to prevent an opponent making a good return. There is no obstruction if the interception occurs when the ball has passed beyond the player's endline, has passed outward over the sideline or is otherwise moving away from the playing surface.